James Miley: jazz studies, composition, theory

Composer and Jazz Pianist James Miley joined the faculty of Virginia Tech in the fall of 2005 as Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies. He earned his D.M.A. in Composition and Jazz Studies from the University of Oregon, a M.Mus. in Composition from the University of Arizona (including coursework at CalArts) and an A.B. in Music with an English minor from Occidental College in Los Angeles, California. In addition to directing the Virginia Tech Jazz Ensemble and jazz combos, Dr. Miley's teaching and research interests include composition and arranging, improvisation, aesthetics, popular music and creative applications of technology in music.

An increasingly in-demand composer in both the jazz and classical idioms, James was awarded the prestigious International Association for Jazz Education's Gil Evans Fellowship in Jazz Composition (2004) and has recently been commissioned to write a new wind ensemble work for premiere by the James Logan Wind Symphony at the National Honor Band Concert at Carnegie Hall in May, 2006. He has appeared as a guest composer/director/adjudicator at numerous festivals and universities, including the University of Oregon, CSU Northridge, and the Reno, Santa Barbara, San Joaquin and Monterey Jazz Festivals. His catalog of compositions and arrangements is available through Walrus Music, Heritage Press, and UNC Jazz Press. Miley's latest creative projects include the small group BUG (featuring saxophonist Peter Epstein) and a recording of his music for large jazz ensemble slated for the summer of 2007.

A California native, James Miley previously held appointments at Cuesta College (San Luis Obispo, CA), California State University, Fresno and Albion College (Albion, MI). His principal teachers have included Richard Grayson, Daniel Asia, Robert Kyr, Hal Owen and Jeff Stolet in composition and Steve Owen, David Roitstein, Larry Koonse and Gary Versace in jazz studies, composition, theory.